The C-Cased Constellation Thread

spacemission · Sep 21, 2022

Neeb
Am I right that 1970 was when it was all happening with changes in dial lettering on 751 movement c-cases?

1970 is 31000000 - 32999999, right? (contrary to some online ressources that attribute the 31 millions to 1969).

My own example has serial number 31936153 and has the "transition" type dial, i.e. with the old layout (Omega at the top, Constellation + star at the bottom), but the new font (straight final "n" in "Constellation" etc.). I've also seen 1970 numbered watches with the old font however, including (oddly) at least one that has a serial number higher than mine, in the 32 millions. But there were also c-cases with the 751 movement made in 1970 that had the full new style layout and font (Omega at the bottom, Constellation at the top, no star), before the transition to the 1000 series movements, right..?

28 mill. serial manufactured in 1970.

kaplan · Sep 21, 2022

Neeb
Am I right that 1970 was when it was all happening with changes in dial lettering on 751 movement c-cases?

1970 is 31000000 - 32999999, right? (contrary to some online ressources that attribute the 31 millions to 1969).

My own example has serial number 31936153 and has the "transition" type dial, i.e. with the old layout (Omega at the top, Constellation + star at the bottom), but the new font (straight final "n" in "Constellation" etc.). I've also seen 1970 numbered watches with the old font however, including (oddly) at least one that has a serial number higher than mine, in the 32 millions. But there were also c-cases with the 751 movement made in 1970 that had the full new style layout and font (Omega at the bottom, Constellation at the top, no star), before the transition to the 1000 series movements, right..?

Nice observations @Neeb - There's also 2 straight "n" fonts, the last one I believe is the long "C" straight "n"s - which @Archer said was used on service dials - so my theory is, this was the final form of the traditional dial and probably why it's in stock, this is all assuming they are old stock

It'd be pretty surprising if we can come up with any meaningful serial patterns other than year ranges, so far it seems very scattered to me, the only clear cut is 1966 to 1967 when new models were introduced

Neeb · Sep 21, 2022

kaplan
There's also 2 straight "n" fonts, the last one I believe is the long "C" straight "n"s - which @Archer said was used on service dials -

I’d be very grateful if someone could post a picture of the service dial style (long C, straight n). Sorry, I know there are some in this thread but they are very difficult to find because you can’t search for strings (only words), and there are an awful lot of hits for both “service” and “dial” 😁

kaplan · Sep 21, 2022

Just the straight "n"s on a linen dial is I think very uncommon too, I only have this Meister one, but it's pretty common on gray dials and other 168.017 dials

Edit: By the way I never opened 75% of watches in my collection, but slowly taking a deeper look at them, logging their details, I'll let you guys now if there's a consistent relation between fonts and order of serials - quite curious whether any regular 168.029 exceeds the newer style dials but I'm pretty sure they will

Neeb · Sep 21, 2022

My 168.029 is identical to yours (except for not being Meister branded).

Is it possible that the "long C, straight n" font and the "short C, straight n" one could be contemporary, but just specific to particular dial finishes? Or do both styles appear on all dial types? Are there any linen dials with the long C?

kaplan · Sep 21, 2022

Neeb
Are there any linen dials with the long C?

Yes there are, I recall originally seeing them on solid gold watches a year ago, and now there are a couple of steel ones in the market too

What's weird is it's like a gradual release, as in, they released these 50 years ago, and we're at a natural end of average life for the target audience, so it feels like an echoed release

spacemission · Sep 22, 2022

R Rex123
I was very surprised that the relojerías and joyerías in Spain are selling badly redialed omega at sky rocket prices.

In Spain you could buy omegas 100% original from factory. Even with dials or massif.

Rex123 · Sep 22, 2022

spacemission
In Spain you could buy omegas 100% original from factory. Even with dials or massif.

really? i mean vintage? can you give me some tips how?
let me send you a PM 😀

spacemission · Sep 22, 2022

R Rex123
really? i mean vintage? can you give me some tips how?
let me send you a PM 😀

I've not gotten your pm. I say that it was possible to buy omegas with the Minerva's head in the 70s.

On the other hand Spain always has had good jewellers for the gold cases.

kaplan · Sep 22, 2022

Some microscope shots, dial is a loose thrash dial

kaplan · Sep 22, 2022

Unfollowed these guys after they shared a half ass article on C-Case's, their main example is a Frankestein watch with a dial from a bigger Constellation with bigger hands that they are selling, quite a wonder it can even function inside the C-Case, you can see the hand almost touch the crystal - and I suspect to make it work, they used a very loose crystal with no armor ring, quite a wonder in fabrication

A general warning to avoid Goldammer

cverstegen · Sep 23, 2022

kaplan
Some microscope shots, dial is a loose thrash dial

Those microscope photos are awesome! Do you have any of the hour markers? I'm trying to figure out the paint vs onyx insert question. All my examples (four) seem to have a painted black line and not onyx inserts. I guess they go with the painted baton hands? I have heard onyx insert markers mentioned and I wonder if those were just for the variations with dauphine hands.

edit: I see just the top of one in the photo with the star... that looks like that's an insert and not paint. hmmm...

kaplan · Sep 23, 2022

Not home right now but coincidentally took these photos before I leave, a new lens - proof that @MtV could’ve pushed Apple out of business, if I figured out external lenses would never buy an iPhone Pro, iPhone’s own photo system is just a nuisance on new devices

cverstegen · Sep 23, 2022

Thanks! It's so hard to tell, but the ones on the second dial sure look like inserts. I'm going to see if I can rig up a way to get good photos of mine with my phone and a loupe, haha. I have a 166.010 that I am pretty sure has inserts. Maybe I'll try to compare those to my c-case markers.

kaplan · Sep 23, 2022

As far as I observed it’s overpaint on non-lume ones and underpaint on lumed ones, I can share a photo soon

cverstegen · Sep 23, 2022

Oh, so its a lume vs non-lume thing. That makes sense. All mine are non-lume. Thanks! and it would be cool to see a photo whenever you have time.

Spruce · Sep 27, 2022

Peemacgee · Sep 30, 2022

Thought I would post this here since these dials aren’t common but are sought after by some of our c-case devotees.
Up for auction in the States

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/ite..._20200423_A&utm_medium=email&utm_content=item

kaplan · Sep 30, 2022

Be careful though as they possibly shill bid and relist when they win, I don't recall why my original bid was low, but I guess the wrong crown, the dial damage up top on the edge (a chip), and the case condition

kaplan · Oct 2, 2022

Just stumbled onto this while looking for something else entirely

It says "BA 168.019" on the caseback, pretty unique. As @Rudi99 pointed out, seems to be a Brasilian case that made its way to Belgium

Sadly the price is super high and the crown/crystal is wrong

The C-Cased Constellation Thread

spacemission

kaplan

Neeb

kaplan

Neeb

kaplan

spacemission

Rex123

spacemission

kaplan

kaplan

cverstegen

kaplan

cverstegen

kaplan

cverstegen

Spruce

Peemacgee

kaplan

kaplan

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